Truck-lever connection



1625,805 Aprll 26, l 1927. S'MHANSSON 'rm Lfwnfvonnscuou, original inea ruw." 21, 1924 Patented Apr. 26, 1927.

UNITED STATES SOREN HANSSON, OF BUTLER, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF T HARRY TEMYPLE ANDELSON, 0F BUTLER, PENNSYLVANIA.

TRUCK-LEVER CONNECTION.

Uriginal application :tiled November This invention relates to an improved truck lever connection, connecting bar, or the like, these bars being particularly suitable for use in the operating mechanism of railway brakes, and other portions of rail# way rolling stock. K

The object of this invention is to produce an improved form of single piece metal connecting bar, of peculiar configuration, which 1 0 is lighter in weight and stronger ,than the usual solid bars of round or angular crosssection heretofore used.

According to the present invention, a length of angle bar. is rolled so as to have a uniform cross-section resembling a fourpointed star. The bar will comprise four similar flanges, radiating from a common center and preferably at right angles to one another. In other words, the four flanges are formed symmetrically about two planes crossing one another at right angles along the center line of the bar. Integral clevises are formed at one or both ends of the connecting bar. This is preferably accomplished by cutting sections, somewhat longer than the desired length of the connecting bar to be formed, from a rolled metal beam of the desired star-section, and then formino' the clevis vat each end by an upsetting and forgin process which is disclosed and claime in detail in my copending a plication, Serial No. 7 51,314, filed Novem er 21, 1924, of which pending application this present application is a division.

The obects and advantages of the invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description of one approved form of the connecting bar. In the accompanying drawings: Fig. 1 is a plan view of the improve connecting bar.

4 Fig. 2 is a perspective view, on an enlarged scale, of one end of the bar. Fig. 3 is an end view of the bar ona still larger Scale. v

Fig. 4 is an enlarged transverse section,

taken substantially on line 44 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a transverse section through the bar, taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

` he main body portion of the bar is of uniform cross-section from end to end, and comprises four preferably substantially ual flanges, 1, 2, 3 and 4, all radiating 'at right 21, 1924, Serial No. 751,814. Divided and this application led January 2, 1926. serial No. 79,013.

angles with one another, from a common center ai, as best shown --in Fig. 5. The ianges 1 and 3 are formed symmetrically, and in opposite directions from the center m, about one plane containing the `axis w' and lianges 2 and' 4 are similarly forme about a second plane which crosses the first mentioned plane at right angles along the center line w. It will be noted that this barv resembles a four-pointed star in cross section, and for this reason will be hereinafter referred to as a star section.

One or both ends of the bar are formed with a pair of similar parallel side members` 5 and 6, each having an outer longitudinal strengthening rib 61, which is enlarged at intervals to form bosses 7, in which :bosses are drilled the bolt holes8. The holes 8 are in alignment in the two parallel side members 5 and 6.

Although this connecting bar may be formed in any desired manner, it is preferably and economically constructed from a section of a rolled metal bar 'of the necessary star cross section, the clevises at the ends being formed by a plurality of upsetting and ,forging processes which are set forth in detail in my copending application, Serial No.

751.314, hereinabove referred to. This connecting bar, despite its peculiar configuration,is quite simply manufactured,`there being but two stamping operations necessary, and the' dies used'arel simple and rugged.

The completed connecting bar has great v strength and rigidity in proportion to its pweight, which is considerably less than that of solid. round bars of corres nding strength. It will be noted, particu arl in Fig. 3, that the side members 5 and 6 o the clevis outline a rectangle, and that the flanges 2 and 4 of the bodyv portion of the bar lie substantially along one diagonal of this rectangle, and the flanges 1 and 3 along the other diagonal. These diagonally arranged body -anges 1, 2, 3 and 4 olfer great resistance to bending stresses, and form-a wide, strong, anchoring base for the inner endsy of the side membersV 5 and 6 of the' clevis.

While it is preferable to makethe bar of the-type .described in detail hereinabove, `it is not absolutely essential that the anugles between4 the side flanges of the bar a bey between anges 2, 3 and '1,4 could be either greater or less than `the angles between flanges 1` 2 and 3, 4, thus the connecting bar could be formed of greater Width than height or vice vversa, as might be desired. It will Vonly be necessary to properly proportion the dies used, to receive stocks of either form, and the operations will otherwise be as described hereinabove.

In the following claims, when the expression star section is used, it is to bel construed as referring particularly to a bar of' uniform cross-section of four-pointed star shaped, as indicated in the drawings, and

as hereinabove described.

I claim: l

1. A` metal connecting bar having a body portion of star cross-section, including four substantially equal ianges radiating from a common center line,vand an integral clevis formed at one end of the bar comprising .a pair of parallel side members, the center lines of the flanges of the star lying in substantially the same planes asthe diagonale of the rectangle outlind by the clevis members.

2. A metal connecting bar having a body portion of star cross-section, including four substantially equal flanges radlating at `right-angles `with one another from a common center line, and-Yan integral clevis formed at one end of 1the bar comprising a pair of arallel side members, the center lines of tile flanges of the star lying in substantially the same planes as vthe diagonals of the rectangle outlined by the clevis memi bers.

3. A metal connecting bar having a body portion of star cross-section, including four Hanges radiating at angles with one another from a common center line, and an integral clevis formed at an end of She bar comprising a pair of parallel side members, the flanges of the bod portion extending substantially in the p anes of the diagonals of the rectangle outlined by the clevis mem-.

SOREN' HANSSON. 

